A learner driver has been charged after a car struck pedestrians outside an Australian comic con event, killing one man and seriously injuring another.
Police allege a Toyota sedan mounted the kerb near Melbourne’s Supanova Comic Con & Gaming event in Ascot Vale shortly before 5pm on Saturday and hit two men as three male pedestrians were leaving the convention.
A 20-year-old man died, while another man of the same age was seriously injured and hospitalised. A third young man who was with them avoided the vehicle and was not hurt.
The accused, Awer Dau, 33, was named in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Sunday evening after being charged with dangerous driving causing death and culpable driving causing death, news.com.au reported.
He appeared by video link from Melbourne West Police Station. He was not required to speak and sat hunched over with his arms on his knees. His lawyer said there would be no application for bail.
Magistrate Jarrod Williams remanded Mr Dau in custody until 15 September.
Police said the man was unlicensed and held only a learner permit.
A prosecutor was granted 16 weeks to prepare the case, saying substantial inquiries remain outstanding. Those include a toxicology report, forensic examination of the vehicle, mechanical reconstruction of the crash, and review of CCTV and witness statements.
Victoria Police said the car continued east along the footpath after the impact before an off-duty officer and a member of the public intervened and detained the driver.
“The circumstances surrounding the collision are yet to be established and the investigation remains ongoing,” police said on Saturday.
Detective Inspector Craig McEvoy said the vehicle’s path was highly unusual.
“It’s extremely unusual that the car has travelled across an entire lane before getting up onto the footpath,” he said.
“The footpath is not in the same direction as he was travelling … so to get across the lane, up onto the footpath and then travel 120 metres along the footpath in between a 2-metre-high fence, trees and power poles, is extremely rare.”
A witness told The Age he restrained the alleged driver and stopped him leaving before police arrived. He said his wife, a paramedic, treated one of the badly injured men for about 20 minutes until emergency crews took over.
Victoria premier Jacinta Allan called it a “tragic incident that should never have happened”.
“My heart goes out to the family and loved ones of the individual who has been tragically killed … it would have been an incredibly distressing incident,” she told the reporters.
At the convention on Sunday, organisers held a minute’s silence.
“We here at Supanova Comic Con & Gaming are deeply saddened and distressed by the incident that occurred outside the Melbourne Showgrounds,” organisers said.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by the unspeakable tragedy that has happened on our doorstep.”
